Metal bending machine



March 5, 1934 J. c. BALDWIN ET Al.

METAL BENDING' MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FOPS A TTORNEY.

March 6, 1934- J. c. BALDWIN ET A1.

METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2,4,l 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eni Application August 24,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to metal bending machines of the type disclosed in our U. S. Letters Patent Number 1,933,957, dated November '7, 1933, andthe primary object of the present inrvention is to generally simplify and improve the construction of the machine as disclosed in said co-pending application.

More particularly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above kindhaving an improved frame construction which is extremely simple, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a novel means for adjusting the vertically movableroller by which `the degree of curvature given to the work may be varied, which adjusting means is` simple, eilicient, and convenient to use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 looking atthe opposite side of the machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the upper portion of the `machine and illustrating use of the latter in arching or bending a spring leaf; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the top frame unit of the machine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present machine includes a supporting frame or bench composed of a to-p unit 5, and cornerfsupporting legs 6 connected at each side of the machine by crossed inclined braces 7. The top frame unit 5 is cast in one piece and consists of an elongated channel-shaped member whose side anges are provided near their front ends with integral upward and rearward extensions 8 of similar form and disposed in spaced parallel relation. Directly rearwardly of the extensions 8, the side flanges of unit 5 are slightly increased in height to provide raised horizontal bearing 'surfaces or edges 9 for a purpose which will later become apparent.

Y It will be noted that unit 5 is provided at opposite ends thereof with spaced depending corner lugs 10 of rectangular form and provided with transverse apertures 11. The legs 6 are of angle iron construction and are tted at their upper ends against the outer corners of the lugs 10 and 1933, Serial No. 686,598

riveted to the latter as at 12, the rivetspassing through the openings 11 of the lugs 10. Rigid connection of the legs to the top unit .is thus facilitated so that assembly may beconveniently accomplished to provide a uniformly rigid frame construction having a smooth andm'shed appearance where the legs are joined to the top unit.

Connecting the forward lower portions of the integral extensions 8 isa transverse shaft 13, and journaled upon this shaft 13 between the extensions 8 is an idler roller 14. A second transverse horizontal shaft` l5 is journaled in the rearupper end of extensions 8 in a vertical plane rearwardly of roller 14, and keyed upon this shaft l5 between the extensions 8 is a driving and bending roller 16. The roller 16 is thus disposed above and rearwardly of roller 14, and its shaft 15 projects outwardly beyond one of the extensions 8 where it has an elongated operating crank 17 integral therewith.

Pivotally hung from and extending rearwardly and downwardly from the shaft V15 betweenl the ends of roller 16 and the upper vends of exten` sions 8, are spaced parallel hanger plates 18 in the lower rear ends of which isjournaled a trans-` verse horizontal shaft 19 having a second idler. roller 20 journaled thereon between the hanger plates 18. The ends of shaft 19 project out wardly of the hanger plates 18,` and xed. or keyed on the projecting ends of this shaft 19 are cam or eccentric disks 21 which bear .at their peripheral edges upon the bearing surfaces .or edges 9 on the side flanges of the top frame unit 5. Integralwith one end of shaft 19 is an oper.- ating lever 22, and provided in one of the cam or eccentric disks 21, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, is an arcuate series of apertures 23 adapted for selective reception of a removable pin 24. The arrangement is such that when the roller 20 is vertically adjusted by turningv Ythe cam or eccentric disks 2l through the medium` of lever 22, one of the apertures 23 will be 1ocated directly lbeneath thelower edge of the Vadjacent hanger plate 18 to one side of shaft 19, and when the pin 24 is placed in this particular aperture and arranged to extend across the under edge of that particular hanger plate 18, the roller 20 will be held in the position to which it has been vertically adjusted. Obviously, the pin 24 will be in the path of the adjacent hanger plate 18 so as to prevent turning of disks 21 in the direction which they naturally tend to turn when the weight of link 18 and roller 21 is imposed on said disk with the latter engaging the a'oA bearing surfaces or edges 9. This means of adjustment is extremely simple, as well as easy and convenient to use. By varying the vertical adjustment of roller 20 in this way relative to roller 16, the degree of curvature given to the leaf spring or the like, may be accurately varied as desired.

In operation, the pin 24 is removed and the lever 22 is elevated so as to lower the roller 20, whereupon the spring leaf or the like is introduced between rollers 14 and 20 and roller 16 as shown in Figure 4. The lever 22 is then lowered to the desired position for elevating roller 20 to the proper relation to roller 16 so as to cause the spring leaf to be given the desired predetermined curvature when caused to pass rearwardly between the rollers. This adjustment o roller 20 is retained by inserting the pin 24 in the particular aperture 23 located directly under the lower edge of the adjacent hanger plate 18. The rearward movement of the spring leaf or the like is then eifected by rotation of roller 16 through the medium of crank or handle 1'7.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen V that we have generally simplified and improved x top frame unit of one-piece cast metal construction and consisting of an elongated channelshaped member provided at its ends with spaced depending corner lugs, the side flanges of said channel-shaped member having near their forward ends spaced parallel upward and rearward 40 integral extensions, supporting legs having their upper ends fitted over and rigidly secured to the depending corner lugs of said channel-shaped member, a pair of rollers journaled in said extensions in different vertical and horizontal planes, a further roller mounted for vertical movement above the channel-shaped member rearwardly of and below the rearmost and uppermost one of the first-named rollers, means for manually turning said rearmost and uppermost roller of the first-named rollers, manually operable means for vertically adjusting the last-named roller including cams bearing upon the upper edges of the side flanges of said channel-shaped member rearwardly of said integral extensions, and means to secure said last-named roller in any desired one of its vertically adjusted positions.

2. A machine for arching or curving the leaves of automobile springs or the like, comprising a top frame unit of one-piece cast metal construc- `tion and consisting of an elongated channelshaped member provided at its ends with spaced depending corner lugs, the side flanges of said channel-shaped member having near their forward ends spaced parallel upward and rearward integral extensions, supporting legs having their upper ends fitted over and rigidly secured to the depending corner lugs of said channel-shaped member, a pair of rollers journaled in said eX- tensions in different vertical and horizontal planes, a further roller mounted for vertical movement above the channel-shaped member rearwardly of and below the rearmost and uppermost one of the first-named rollers, means for manually turning said rearmost and uppermost roller of the nrst-named rollers, manually operable means for vertically adjusting the lastnamed roller including cams bearing upon the upper edges of the side ilanges of said channelshaped member rearwardly of said integral extensions, and means to secure said last-named roller in any desired one of its vertically adjusted position, one of said cams having an arcuate series of apertures concentric with the axis thereof, the mounting means for said vertically movable roller including rearwardly and downwardly extending hanger plates pivotally hung from the shaft of said rearmost and uppermost roller of the first-named rollers, said adjustment-securing means including a pin selectively removably positionable in any desired one of said apertures of the beforernentioned cam to extend across the under edge of the adjacent hanger plate and thereby prevent turning of the cams in the direction which permits lowering of the vertically adjustable roller.

3. A machine for arching or curving the leaves of automobile springs or the like, comprising a top frame unit of one-piece cast metal construction and consisting of an elongated channelshaped member provided at its ends with spaced depending corner lugs, the side flanges of said channel-shaped member having near their forward ends spaced parallel upward and rearward integral extensions, supporting legs having their upper ends ritted over and rigidly secured to the depending corner lugs of said channel-shaped member, a pair of rollers journaled in said extensions in different vertical and horizontal planes, a further roller mounted for vertical movement above the channel-shaped member rearwardly of and below the rearmost and uppermost one of the first-named rollers, means for manually turning said rearmost and uppermost roller of the first-named rollers, manually operable means for vertically adjusting the lastnamed roller including cams bearing upon the upper edges of the side flanges of said channelshaped member rearwardly of said integral extensions, and means to secure said last-named roller in any desired one of its vertically adjusted positions, the side flanges of said channel-shaped top frame member being slightly increased in height directly rearwardly of the integral extensions to form elevated bearing surfaces for said cams.

CHAD C. MCKNIGHT. JAMES C. BALDWIN. 

